Accounting device.



PATENTED OCT. 29. 1907.

Ir. J. BENNETT.

ACCOUNTING DEVICE.

APPLIUATION FILED JAN. 28, 1907.

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J. J. BENNETT. ACCOUNTING DBVIGE.-

APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 28. 1907.

4 SHBETS-SHEET 2.

fizye/z 1 0 2 M 2am PATENTED OCT. 29. 1907.

J. J. BENNETT. ACCOUNTING DEVICE.

APPLIUATION FILED JAN. 28. 1907.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

J7 JJ 70 6d Credit flcc'cl 62ml faz'd Jules Z2 dazed Z I at: I (is J eds 6/ 4 4.9 J6 1961 Q m 66 9 9 A A NK PATENTED OCT. 29. 1907.

J. J. BENNETT. ACCOUNTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.28.1907.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

NAN ll PIIIIII N UNITED STATES PATENT onsron.

lOSEPH J. BENNETT, OF LISBON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO BENNETT REGISTER COMPANY, A

- CORPORATION OF. OHIO.

ACCOUNTING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

- Fatented Oct. 29, 1907,

Application filed January 28. 1907. Serial No. 354.694.

' To all whom it may recording and indicating othermatters hereinafterre.

ferred to which 'may arise daily in the conduction of business.

A further object of the invention is to provide means in a manner as hereinafterset forth whereby credit accounts may be kept accurately and in the least possihle amount of time without requiring other entries than substantially those that are already made when maln'ng up and filling orders for goods.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the in-' vention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown the preferred embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, modifications and variations can be resorted to which come the scope of the hereunto appended.

In describing the invention indetai-l reference is had to .the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views and, in which i Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cabinet showing certain elementsof an accounting appliance in accordance with this invention. Fig. l" is a detail of an indexcard sheet carried --by the cover of the cabinet. 2 is a perspective view showing the bill holders or racks.- Fig. 3 is .a. front view of one of the bill holders or racks with the indicator tab removed. Fig. 4 is a sectional plan of a pair of bill holders or racks. Fig. 5 a side view showing a series of bill holders or racks together for removal. Fig. 6 is a view of the frame for tying a series of billholders or racks together. Fig.

'7 is a plan showing the daily record sheet, and certain of the elements of the appliance associated therewith. Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the feeding mechanism for the daily record sheet. 9 is a view of the credit slip or Referring tothe drawings by reference characters 1 a cabinet comprising a base 1, a horizontallydisposed intermediate partition 1 a lower section 1, comprising a rear wall, a pair of side walls, and a vertically-extending partition 1 for dividing the front of the section 1' into a pair of openings, one of greater size than the other and through the larger of which extends the money drawer 2 and through the smaller of which extends the'filing drawer 3. The section 1 is interposed between the base 1 and the partition 1 as wellas being suitably secured thereto. Mounted'upon the partition 1 is the upper section 1 of the cabinet, said upper section comprising a front, rear and side walls. Secured within the section 1 is the vertically-extending partitions 1, 1 and 1 The partitions 1 and 1 'are of less height than the section 1, while the .partition 1 has a portion thereof of the same height .as the section 1 and its remaining portion is of the .same height asthe partitions 1, 1 The partitions 1, 1 and 1 form, in connection with the partition 1, the elongated compartments 4 and 5, the partition 1 forming the bottom of said compartments. Interposed between the inner end of that portion of greater height of the partition 1 and the side wall 1 of the section 1 is a transversely-extending partition 1 forming a compartment 8. Interposed between the partition 1 and the rear wall 1 of the section 1 is a partition 1*, forming, in connection with the side wall 1 rear wall 1 and rear end of the partition'l and partition 1 a pair of compartments 7. The compartment 8 is formed by'a portion of the partition 1 partition 1 sidewall 1 and partition 1 Hinged to the upper section 1 at the rearthereof is a cover 9 adapted when opened to be placed in an .upright position through the medium of the rearwardly-extending member 11 secured to the wall 1 of the section The cover 9-is provided witha rim 12, the top edge thereof extending .forwardly and downwardly at an inclination so that when the cabinet is closed the cover- 9 will be positioned at an inclination for the convenient use thereof as a desk. Within the rim 12 is positioned a frame 14 connected with the rear of the rim by a pair of hinges 13. The frame 14 carries a sheet of transparent material for inclosing an indexsheet 15 which is secured against the inner face of the cover 9 by the retaining strip 16. The free end of the frame 14 is detachably connected to the cover 9 by the catch .17. The index sheet 15 is divided into a series of columns of spaces 18, each column designated by a letter of the alphabet and each of the spaces of each column'is adapted to receive the name of a customer as at 18, and alongside of each-of the customers names is placed a reference indication, byway of example a number, as at 20, the indication for each customers name being different and the indications upon the index sheet are adapted to associate with the holders or bill racks in a manner as hereinafter set forth.

The compartments-4 and 5 are each adapted to receive a bodily movable series of bill holders or racks. Only one series is shown and indicated by the reference character 21. The bill holders or racks of the 1 series of racks 21 are adapted to receive one or more bills 22 (Fig. 9) for indicating a customers account.

Within the compartment 6 is mounted a bodily movable series 'of bill holders or racks 23 and within the compartmentiis-fmounted a like series of bill holders or racks 24. The bill holders or racks of the series of racks 23 are adapted to receive miscellaneous charge accounts and each of these racks of said series of bill holders or racks 23 is adapted to receive an index card termed miscellaneous charge index card which is indicated by the reference character 25, (Fig. 14).

The racks of the series of bill racks 24 are adapted to receive 0. O. D. orders. vThe racks of the series 21 are consecutively numbered and associate with the numbers upon the index sheet 15 while the racks of the series 23 are designated by letters of .the alphabet and the same is true of the racks of the series of racks 24. The only difference between the racks 21 and the racks of the series 23 and 24 is in the manner of designating them, the construction of all the racks being identical so therefore the description of a rack of any one series will apply to all the racks, the same reference characters being used. The bill holders 'or racks of each series are connected to a common detached flat base 26 having the longitudinally-extend- .ing marginal portions upturned as at 27 and which terminate in an inwardly-extending flange 28 forming thereby a space and interposed between the flanges 28 is a removable spacing member for the racks which consists of a flat plate 30 having the longitudinallyextending marginal portionsthereof upturned as at 31 and notched as at 32. A bill holder or rack is formed of a body portion 33 having side flanges 34, a centrally-arranged .supporting and retaining arm 35 which" has an extension 36 adapted to be inserted through a pair of slits 37 in the lower part of the body portion 33 so that the overlapping portion ,38 formed by the slits 37 will secure the arm 35 to the body portion 33. The latter furthermore comprises a'pair of laterally-extending lugs 39 struck from the side flanges 34 and which are adapted to prevent the overlapping of the side flanges 34 of one holder or rack over the side flanges 34 of another holder or rack. The holder or rack'furthermore comprises a notched portion 39 and a protuberance 40 having an aperture 41, the apertured protuberance being arranged at the top of the body portion 33, while at the bottom of the body portion a transversely-extending pivot bar ,42 is secured and which extends through a pair of opposing notches 32 and is positioned within the receiving spaces 29 below the flanges 3].. The notch 39- facilitates the insertion and removal of bills to and from the rack, while the inturned flanges 28 prevent the racks from being pulled'vertically out of the base. To the protuberance 41 is attached a flexible tab 43,

which carries a letter or number as the case may be.

As shown in Fig. 3 the member 43 carries a number as at 44. The member 43 straddles the protuberance 40 and has a part thereof forced in the opening 41 as at (Fig. 4). Such manner of setting up the member 43 secures the same to the protuberance 4].. The protuberances 40 are so disposed throughout the bill holders or racks as to enable the designations 44 carried thereby to be readily seen. Although the racks when connected to the base cannot be pulled free therefrom separately, yet owing tothe manner of constructing 'requires.

seams and arranging the spacing member the same can he slid off of the base and such action will carry the bill racks therewith.

In Figs. 5 and 6 means is shown for clamping the sa ries of bill racks or holders together when it isdesired to remove the series bodily from the cabinet and the said 3 means consists of a rectangular frame 46 which when inserted around a series of bill holders or racks, will clamp them together (see 5) when it is desired to place the rack in a safe or vault.

Within the compartment 8 is arranged a daily record sheet feeding mechanism and which consists of a rota- 'table shaft 47 carrying a roll of paper 48, the web as it is pulled off the roll constituting the record sheet and which is indicated by the reference character 48. The web of paper is adapted to extend over a rest 49 and then down through a pair of feeding rolls 50, 51, the former being an idler and the latter carrying a shifting wheel 52 provided with finger pieces 53. When the wheel 52 is rotated the web will be drawn ofi the roll 48. Arranged in close proximityto the idler roll 50 is a knife 54 to enable the cutting off of the web when occasion so The compartment 8 is closed through the medium of the cover sections 55, 56, which are of such width as to terminate at each side of the rest 49 so that the attendant canmake a recordupon the web. The cover section 55 is cut away as at 57 to allow the attendant to have access to the finger pieces 53 so that the wheel 52 can be shifted to feed the web. The web is divided into columns 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66 and the cover section 55 is provided with inscriptions for designating for what purpose the columns 58 to 66 are employed. Such inscriptions are indicated by the reference characters 67, 68, 69, and 71, the inscription 67 associating with the column 58 to indicate that such column is to be used for the name of the purchaser, the inscription 68 associating with the columns 59, 60 to indicate that such columns are to be used for recording the amount of the credit sales, the inscription 69 asso ciating with the columns 61, 62 to designate that said columns are to be'used for recording the amount received on account, the inscription 70 associating with the columns 63 and 64 to designate that the said columns are to receive a record of cash sales and the in scription 71 associating with the columns 65 and 66 to designate that such columns are to receive a record of the amount paid on account. At the end of a days business .that portion of the web having the record thereon is severed through the medium of the knife 54.

When a customer has been served and a bill made out and a record placed upon the web 48 the attendant will ascertain the customers number and then shift the racks oi the series of bill holders or racks 21 until he reaches the customers bill holder or rack. The attendant will then place the new bill therein or do'whatever is necessary. Or, if it is a miscellaneous charge the attendant will insert the bill in a rack of the series 24 or if it is O. O. D. the attendant-will place the bill in the proper rack of the series 23. At the end of the day the web 48 is torn off and the proprietor will then know exactly by footing up various amounts upon the web 48, the state of the days business.

What I claim is 1. An accounting appliance comprising a detached flat base having the longitudinal marginthereof bent upwardly and inwardly, and a spacing member mounted upon the base and having the longitudinal margin thereof upturned and notched,'a plurality of bill holders each provided at its lower ends with pivot rods extending through the notches of the spacing member and engaging under the inwardlyextendlng portions of the base.

' 2. An accountin" appliance comprising a flat base having flanges extending in the direction of the length thereof and towards each other, bill holders carrying pivot moans extending on the flanges of the base, and means mounted upon the base and below the holders for constituting a fulcrum for the pivots of the holders, said means further spacing the pivots apart.

3. An accounting appliance comprising the combination with a detached tiat base having the longitudinal marginal portions thereof bent upwardly in an angular manner and a removable spacing member carried by the base and having side flanges arranged in close proximity to the angular portions of the base, said side flanges being notched, of means for receiving accounts detachabiy connected with the base and spaced by said member. said means comprising a body portion having side flanges, a retaining arm carried thereby. a pivot bar secured to the lower end of the body portion and extending through said member and under the angular portions of the base. and laterally-extending flanges projectile; from each side of the body portion.

4. An accounting appliance comprising the-combination with a detached flat base having the longitudinal marginal portions thereof bent upwardly innn angular manner and a removable spacing member carried by the base and having side flanges arranged in close proximity to the angular portions of the base, said side flanges being notched, of means for receiving accounts detachably connected with the base and spaced by said member, said means compris ing a body portion having side flanges, a retaining arm carried thereb v.a pivot bar secured to the lower end of the body portion and extending through said member and under the angular portions of the base, lateraliy-extending flanges projecting from each side of the body portion, said body portion provided at its top with a notch and a protuberance having an opening, and an indicating tab mounted upon the protuberance and crimped so as to extend in the opening thereby securing tab to the protuberance.

5. An accounting appliance comprising a flat base having the longitudinal marginal portions thereof bent upwardly in an angular manner, a longitudinally-shiftnble member mounted upon the base and having side flanges arranged in close proximity to the angular portions of the base, said side flanges being notched, and bill holders provided with pivots mounted in the notches of said member and extending under the angular portions of the base.

6. An accounting appliance comprising a flat base provided with longitudiually-extending flanges, a longitudinallyshitiable notched plate mounted upon the base, and a plurality of bill holders provided with pivots mounted in the notches oi the plate and extending underthe flanges ot' the base.

7. An accounting appliance comprising a pivoted bill holder consisting of a body portion having side flanges and at its top formed with a notch and a protuberance having an opening. said body portion near its bottom formed with a pair of slits, a retainingatrm having the lower end thereof extending through the slits of the body portion thereby connecting the arm thereto, and a pivot bar secured to the bottom of the body portion.

8. An accounting appliance comprising a pivoted bill holder consisting oi a body portion having side tianges and at its topformed with a notch and a protuberance having an opening, said body portion near its bottom. 70 formed with a pair of slits, a retaining arm having the lower end thereof extending through the slits of the body portion thereby connecting the arm thereto, a pivot bar secured to the bottom of the body portion, and an indicutor tab straddling said protuberance and having a portion thereof crimped to extend in the opening thereby securing the tab to the protuberance in 'testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH J. BENNETT.

Witnesses Lonon RIDDLE, C. t). Coxxnnn. 

